Coronavirus: UAE records 1,591 new cases and three deaths

People queue for the vaccine near DIFC. The city has approved Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm and Oxfrd-AstraZeneca for use, and officials hope to have half the population vaccinated by late March. AFP

Abu Dhabi has vaccinated at least 60 per cent of teachers and school staff, many during a week-long vaccine drive in late January. Courtesy: Adek

A man receives a dose of a vaccine against Covid-19 at St Paul’s Church in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A vaccine is administered at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Bareen hospital

Abu Dhabi has vaccinated at least 60 per cent of teachers and school staff, many during a week-long vaccine drive in late January. Courtesy: Adek

Airport personnel unload a coronavirus vaccine shipment at Dubai International Airport on February 1, 2021. AFP

An Emirates Airlines Boeing 777 unloads a coronavirus vaccine shipment at Dubai International Airport on February 1, 2021. The airline is part of the Vaccine Logistics Alliance, which includes also logistics giant DP World. Karim Sahib / AFP

People wait to enter a vaccination centre at Dubai's financial district on January 24, 2021. AFP

People queue for the vaccine near DIFC. The city has approved Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm and Oxfrd-AstraZeneca for use, and officials hope to have half the population vaccinated by late March. AFP

A teacher gives a thumbs up as he receives the Sinopharm vaccine in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Department of Education and Knowledge

A placard informs the public of the location of a designated Covid-19 vaccination centre in Dubai's financial centre district. AFP 

People in Dubai queue for a vaccine on January 24, 2021. AFP

The UAE recorded 1,591 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday from an additional 236,993 tests.

The latest infections brought the country's total number of cases to 556,107.

Another 1,569 patients overcame the coronavirus, as the number of recoveries climbed to 536,050.

The death toll stands at 1,651, following three more fatalities.

There are 18,406 active cases in the Emirates.

Authorities said 70,176 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were given in the last 24 hours, representing a rate of 122.39 doses per 100 people.

The number of vaccine doses administered in the UAE passed the 12-million mark at the weekend.

It was revealed on Saturday that the UAE moved to the top of the global rankings for vaccination rates, overtaking Israel.

New infections increased slightly over the past two days. But cases have been on a downward spiral since reaching a high of close to 4,000 in January.

Meanwhile, Emirates Red Crescent and Tamouh Healthcare launched an initiative to export thousands of vaccines to countries struggling to tackle Covid-19.

Over the coming weeks, ERC and Tamouh will establish where vaccines are most needed and take care of delivery and shipping expenses.

Both parties have also pledged to administer vaccines to a number of different target groups in Abu Dhabi.